Airport Plans $250k Prayer Room Ahead of Muslim Influx
Jeff Edwards August 24, 2015
Officials at Orlando International Airport (MCO) expect to have a new prayer room catering to Muslim passengers and employees in time to welcome Emirates service to the resort destination.
By the time Emirates begins inaugural service between Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Orlando International Airport (MCO) in September, airport officials in Orlando expect to cut the ribbon on a new $250,000 reflection room. The prayer space will be open to visitors of all faiths, but will incorporate features to make the worship area appropriate for Muslim travelers.
According to details of the planned facility reported in the Orlando Sentinel, the reflection room will incorporate built-in compass directions for visitors who wish to pray facing towards Mecca. Prayer rugs will be available and an ablution area along with storage for shoes and luggage will also be provided.
“Orlando is truly becoming a global community, and we want to be able to accommodate and provide high-quality amenities for all our passengers,” MCO Director Phil Brown told the Sentinel.
The existing chapel at the airport has a limited number of prayer rugs available for Muslim passengers who wish to take advantage of the facility, but for international travelers, the current chapel is inconveniently located and many travelers were put in the position of having to perform religious rites in the public areas of the airport, in some cases even choosing to practice their faith in restroom facilities.
Longtime airport chaplin, Father Robert Susann views the planned reflection room as a welcome addition to the airport. “This is the place where we welcome people of all faiths,” he said. “I’m here to bring the presence of God to them.”
[Photo: iStock]
AlwaysFlyStar, I think you better reread my original statement again because I never mentioned the word American or Americans. Moreover, my statement was right on target because more Muslims will be coming to the U.S. due to the new route into MCO. People who mistreat others in their homelands should never be allowed to demand special treatment here in the U.S. As for you labeling me as xenophobic, you are dead wrong. This proves to me that you really do not understand what the word really means. Finally, a perfect example of a xenophobia is when a Muslim murders a non-believer because he or she did not agree with the Muslim point of view.
It's amusing when bigots feel they know so much about a topic they can comment. In reality: No, not all prayer areas are segregated. And this reflection space is like any other prayer room at any other airport, whether it is one of the five times of day than not. And you wonder why the World views America so?
@Open Jaw, what a disgusting sentiment. To fault American Muslims for problems in the Middle East is akin to blaming all Asian-Americans for human rights abuses in China. Not only is it absurd, but it is incredibly xenophobic.
Thank you Open Jaw ... I fully support your stance. My initial comment was withheld by the mod, but I support your stance 100%.
We should not be accommodating any Muslim customs in the U.S. until non-Muslims are allowed to practice their faiths without discrimination or fear in every Muslim nation. If paying five times a day is so important, stay home or travel only within the Muslim world.